Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival in Kilimanjaro International Airport

   • Get picked up and transferred to Keys Hotel in Moshi followed by a briefing from your mountain guide and rest on FB accomodation plan.

2. Day 2: Kilimanjaro Park Gate to Mandara Hut

   • Take a short drive from Moshi to the Kilimanjaro Park Gate (1,830 m) that lies at the edge of Marangu, which is an attractive village with many small coffee and banana plantations.
   • After completing the entrance formalities, climb up through the attractive and unspoiled forest to reach the clearing containing Mandara Hut (2,700 m.).
     • Volcanic remains of Maundi Crater are nearby and make a good afternoon excursion. An alternative is to rest and enjoy the beautiful forest. There is a rich birdlife at the huts, and monkeys are often seen as well.

   (3-5 hours walking to Mandara Hut)

3. Day 3: Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut

   • First part of the walk is a steep ascent through forest, but the path soon opens out into grassy moorland and, in clear weather, there are good views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks.

   • Climb steadily through the moorland zone, containing giant heather and occasional stands of groundsel, to eventually reach Horombo Hut (3,720 m). Sunrises and sunsets here are often very stunning. The site is close to the glaciated dome of Kibo, and there is a real sense of being above the clouds.

   (4-6 hours walking from Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut)

4. Day 4: Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut

   • Climb very gradually towards the lunar desert of the Saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo. The terrain changes to screed, and there is a palpable sense of high altitude wilderness.
   • Reach Kibo Hut (4,700 m) at the bottom of the crater wall by midday, and the afternoon is free. The remainder of the day is spent resting and eating in preparation for the final climb before a very early night.

   (4-5 hours walking from Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut)

5. Day 5: Kibo Hut to Summit & Down to Horombo Hut

   • Start the ascent with torchlight at about 1 am so that we can be up at Gillman’s Point by sunrise. The initial climb is steep over the loose volcanic screen, but some well-graded zig-zag and a slow but steady pace will have you up to Gillman’s (5,685 m) in about five or six hours.
   • Rest there and spend some time taking in the sunrise. Those who are still feeling strong can make the three hour round trip from here along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5,896 m), passing close to the spectacular glaciers that still occupy most of the summit area.
   • Descent is surprisingly fast; return to Horombo Hut for the night.

   (11-15 hours walking from Kibo Hut to Gillman’s Point)